Veneer trimmer



E. PEDRON VENEER TRIMMER Sept. 9, 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 12, 1947 NWN E. PEDRON VENEER TRIMMER Sept. 9, 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 12, 1947 E. PEDRON VENEER TRIMMER Sept. 9, 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 12, 1947 5% M 0 l 0 \N mm kam- QM wk kn w kn Qk 9o 2 m I Q uw Sept. 9, 1952 E. PEDRON 2,609,874

VENEER TRIMMER Fiied June 12, 1947 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 N N 0 Q g Z 543 r-W Sept. 9, 1952 E. PEDRON 2,609,374

VENEER TRIMMER Filed June 12, 1947 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 J18 U J Gum M4 4.

E. PEDRON VENEER TRIMMER Sept. 9, 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed June 12, 1947 E. PEDRON VENEER TRIMMER Sept. 9, 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet Filed June 12, 1947 1 No ma L Patented Sept. 9, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Ettore Pedron, Eugene, Oreg.

Application June 12, 1947, Serial No. 754,157

13 Claims.

My invention relates to machine tools, particularly machines for trimming and slitting sheets of veneer, and an object thereof is to provide a machine tool adapted to present sheets of veneer to and carry them away from a reciprocating cutter by means of conveyors located at opposite sides of the'cutter and timing the movement of said parts relatively to each other together with a universal control mechanism.

Another object of my invention is to provide a machine tool of the character indicated comprising a driving mechanism for reciprocating the cutter, a separate drive for operating the conveyors, a controlling mechanism which interrupts the movement of the conveyors during the reciprocation of the trimming knife, and means for selectively operating said last mentioned mechanism.

A further object of my invention is toprovide in a veneer trimmer, a control mechanism comprising an endless chain supporting a plurality of transversely movable push rods, selectively adjustable for tripping a prime mover, which actuates the clutch in the mechanism operating the trimming cutter and simultaneously disconnects the clutch operating the conveyors.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a machine tool of the charactermentioned wherein the conveyor operating clutch is automatically reconnected, after the cutter has completed its operation so that the conveyors are operated continuously until another push pin trips the prime mover again.

To these and other ends my invention comprises further improvements and advantages as will. be further described in the accompanying specification, the novel features thereof being set forth in the appended claims. a

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of the veneer trimmer constructed in accordance with my invention. 7

Figure 2 is an elevational front view of the veneer trimmer, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 the feeding conveyor beingomitted.

. Figure 3 is an elevational rear view of the veneer trimmer, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, the conveyor for taking away the trimmed sheets being omitted.

V Figure 3A is asectional view taken on the line 3a-3a of Fig. 3 showing in plan the disposition of the clutch mechanism for operating the reciprocating cutter and the conveyors, together with the cam shaft. 1. Figures 4. and 5'are elevational end views of the right and left hand ends respectively of the machine shown in Fig. 2.

Figures 6 and 7 are enlarged detail front and rear views respectively ofthe clutch mechanism for operating the trimming knife showing its actuating devices. v

Figure 8 is a detail view of the clutch for operating the two conveyors, the motor and transmission drive therefor being omitted.

Figure 9 is a fragmentaryv'iew'of the prime mover for the'tripping mechanism for operating the clutches.

Figure 10 is a top plan view of a portion of the control mechanism for operating the underlying tripper shown in Fig. 9.

Figure 11 is an underneath view of the control mechanism illustrated in Fig. 10 as seen when looking upwardly at its parts.

Figure 12 is a vertical cross sectional view of the control mechanism illustrated in Figures 10 and 11 taken on the line 12-42 of Fig. 10.

Figure 13 is a sectional View taken on the line 13-43 of Fig. 12.

Figure 14 is a sectional View which is a continuation ofthe right hand end of Fig. 13, illustrating the sprocket carrying the end of the control mechanism where it cooperates with the clutch tripping device shown in Fig. 9, and

Figure 15 is a plan view of the feeler or push pin setter, illustrating diagrammatically its cooperative action with push pins operated in various positions.

Similar reference numerals, in the several figures, indicate similar parts.

A veneer trimmer embodying my invention comprises generally a conveyor for feeding the work pieces to a vertically reciprocating knife blade or cutter, a second conveyor for carrying away the trimmed pieces and cuttings, and suitable driving mechanism for synchronizing their movement, together with means for controlling the intermittent reciprocation of the knife and conveyor which may be manipulated [by an op- 45 erator standing at the side of the machine and observing the untrimmed sheets of veneer as they are advanced toward the cutter.

A machine embodying the subject matter of my invention consists of certain main parts, such as a veneer feeding conveyor 20, a removing conveyor 2| (Fig. 1), a trimming cutter, generally designated 22, a manually operated control mechanism generally indicated by 23, together with Editable sources of power and driving connecons.

Cutter mounting and operating mechanism The trimming cutter 22 comprises a vertically reciprocating knife head 24, carrying on its lower edge a trimming blade 25, and guided at its ends in the vertical frame pieces 26 and 21. The latter comprise the ends of the frame of the machine and are connected to the base thereof composed of channel beams 28 to which they are bolted.

The end framesare centrally slotted at their upper ends and provided with vertical guideways 29 in which the glide blocks 30 on the ends of the knife head travel. Each of these blocks has an outwardly extending hub which is reinforced by a. rib 36. Reciprocatory movement of the knife is effected by pitman rods, 3712011- nected at their upper ends to journal boxes 33 carried by the hubs and at their lower ends by similar boxes 39 to studs on short crank arms 40 splined on the extremities of a. shaft 41 which projects through the two end pieces'of the frame. This shaft also constitutes a cam shaft as it carries two cams which control the relatively timed operation of the cutter and the conveyors.

Rotary movement is imparted to shaft 4! through a clutch mechanism carried on a shaft 51] which is parallel to'shaft 4|. This clutch is shown at the right hand end of Fig. 3 and in detail in Figs. 6 and '7', and comprises a freely rotating driving gear 4?. operated by a pinion 42 on the armature shaft 44 of a motor 45. 'The shafts 4] and are geared together on the outer sides of the end frames 26 and 27, said gears being shown as spur gears 52 on shaft ii and intermeshing pinions 53 on shaft 50.

The clutch mechanism cooperating'with the drive geardZ is actuated in step with the conveyor drive mechanism as a result of the manual setting of the control devices 23; actuated by the operator.

The conveyors and their driving devices The feeding conveyor it may be constructed in any conventional manner and comprises-an endless belt adapted to receive unfinished sheets of veneer 55 and transport them to the cutter. This belt is tautly trained over an outer set of rollers (not shown) and a plurality of short rollers 5t rigidly mounted on a shaft 57 extending between and rotatably journaled in the two end frames adjacent their front edges (Fig. 2).

The removing conveyor 2! likewise consists of an endless belt tautly trained over a plurality of short inner rollers 58 and an outer roller (not shown), the'inner rollers being rigidly mounted on a shaft 5;) rotatably journaled in the two end frames 23 and 27- adjacent their rear edges (Fig. 3).

The. two belt shafts i5? and 5? are arranged so that their axes are located in the same horizontal plane and in a position so that the upper surfaces of the two endless belts are located approxi matelyat a level of the point of engaging the cutting edge of the trimming knife 25 with the veneer sheets. i v

The end of shaft 57 extending beyond the right end frame 2? carries spur gear 69 and. similarly located on the extremity of shaft 59 is a spur gear 6i. Meshing with said gears is an intermediate gear 63 carried on r a stud shaft ii-t mounted on the frame 27- centrally between'thetwo conveyor shafts.

A separate source of power is employed for operating the conveyors in conjunction with a clutch mechanism which is designed to be thrownout of action when the cutting knife 25 is operated. To this end I mount in front of the right hand end of the frame, as shown in Fig. 2, a transmission gear unit 84 driven by a motor 65. Power from this unit is delivered from a; shaft '18 carrying a sprocket ii, through a link chain it to a sprocket It on a jack shaft i l. The latter is jcurnaled at one end in a bearing '15 on frame piece 2'? and at its other. end is a bearing At its outer end shaft M also carries a gear it (Figs. 2 and 3) which transmits motion to a gear wheel it on shaft 5'! thus imparting movement to the two conveyors.

The clutch mechanism which drives the conveyors is assembled on the shaft 14. It is generally indicated by it (Fig. 8) and comprises in part the aforementioned sprocket i3 which is mounted for free rotary movement on the shaft it and is locked thereto when the clutch is shifted in one direction. as will be under tood; the medium for effecting this operation'beinga shifting lever 89, which is actuated through the instrumentality of the control mechani Inser ated in harmony with they clutch mechanism which causes thev trimmin t he. ran e previously described.

Clutch operating devices- 7.

To simultaneously operate the two clutches an interconnected shifting mechanism is provided;

To shift the conveyorclutch is the leveril'il which is pivoted thereto at its center is connected at its upper end, as indicated at 9fi, -to the machine frame andat the low-erend to an operating bar 9!. The latter-isconnected to a levee s2 pivotally mounted at 93 on the fip'nt channelbeam 28 (see Fig. 8) and is normally retracted, to cause the clutch iii to be openedor disc-ngaged, by a helical spring 9!} which i s given the desired normal tension by connecting it "to a rod 9-5. adjustably mounted in a bracket 95 on theframe (Fig. 2), thus opening the conveyor clutch 19, its

. disengagement from the sprocket 7'3 causing the conveyors to be halted. This stoppage" o f'move ment occurs simultaneously with the downward movement of the knife 25. I

The pivotal point 93 of the adjusting lever e2 one end of a transverse shaft which also care rise a shorter operating lever 91; extending upwardly at one side of shaft ii and carries at its upper end a roller 95. On the shaft 41' a 'segs mental cam disk Sil is adjustably-"secured. It is provided with a lateraloi'fset portion- (Bil which is adapted to engage the roller 9-8 and cause. the

levers 9 i' and 92- to be rocked to the right (Fig. 8) against the force of spring 9 1; thus closing the conveyor clutch 19, into eng-agementwith the sprocket i3 causing the conveyors to. be driven. This action occurs simultaneously with the arresting of knife 25- in elevated position described hereafter. 1" Z The knife clutch mechanism is; in reality a double clutch comprising dual e'lementsA and. B, one for intennittently rotating shaft at to. recipe rocate the knife, the other acting as a brake for checking its rotation and arresting the, knife in its elevated position after each reciprocation, Ihese elements are alternately actuated y: it shifting lever H8. (Figs. 6. and 7.). normal y impelled by a spring H i. in a direction to: old the continuously driven drum gear 42; inunlocked position and to-drive the driven Shaft, '51}. and through it, the came shafttllljwThesppingll lis connected atoneend to .the'upper end of lever H and at its'other end to the frame of the machine. Lever I I0 is connected at its lower end to a transverse shaft II2 journaled in bearings H3 on the base 28 of the frame. Alsoattached to this shaft is an upwardly, angularly disposed arm H4 which is normally held in the position shown in Figs. 6 and '7 by a disc cam I I5 on shaft 4| having a lateral high point H6 which operates through a form of displaceable connection to hold said arms H4 and H0 in neutral position against the tension of spring I I I which operates on arm H6. The displaceable connection comprises, a sliding block III supported in a horizontal guideway in a rail IIB, of the machine frame, having a laterally extending roller H9 bearing against the face of cam H5 and held in engagement therewith by a coil spring I26 connected at one end to a stud I2I on the frame and at the other end to a projection I22 on the block. A link chain I23 lies in said guideway and connects the block I H to the lever H4. The chain is stiff enough so that when the block is displaced by the high point of the cam to move the lever (toward the left in Fig. 6) and likewise is strong enough to move the lever in the opposite direction under the influence of spring I when the roller is released by the cam. The importance of the jointed connection formed by the chain links will presently appear.

Coordinating the operation of the two clutches When the high point of cam II5 releases lever I I4 the spring I I I actuates the shifting lever I I0 to connect the driven gear 42 to shaft 50 thus tripping the knife 25 and rotating the cam shaft 4I one turn, in synchronism therewith, through the gearing connections 52 and 53 at the two ends of these shafts. The rotation of shaft 4I causes cam H5 to disconnect the drive of shaft M and arrest it. At the same time cam 99 serves to connect the clutch drive of the two conveyors.

Actuation of the last above described parts is effected by the upward movement of a push rod I connected to one of the intermediate links of chain I23 which puts a kink in the chain and thus operates the lever H4. The push rod is moved upwardly by a lever arm I3I attached to a transverse rock shaft I32 'journaled in bearings I33 on the machine base 28. An arm I34 extending downwardly from the end of shaft I32 has at its lower end a treadle I35 set at such an angle that when it is depressed the shaft I32 will be oscillated to lift the push rod I30 thus distorting the chain I23 and closing the knife clutch to effect a reciprocation of the knife. I

Rocking the shaft I32 by depression of the treadle is accomplished by the control mechanism which is set to perform this operation by the operator and in practice it is actuated by a trip attached to the upper end of a connecting rod I36, which reaches upwardly from the treadle (Fig. 6) to the horizontal arm I31 of a bell crank lever (Fig. 9) pivoted to a bracket I on the end frame piece 26. The other end I4I of this lever projects upwardly in position to be actuated. when engaged by said control mechanism, against a spring I42 the tension of which is sufficient to hold the treadle in its normal elevated position.

The control mechanism Veneer sheets as they are peeled from a log contain imperfections, such as knot holes, cracks, and the like. These sheets as they are fed to the conveyor 20, also have irregular ends, somewhat as depicted in Fig. 1. In order therefore thatthese sheets maybe trimmed and the im perfections removed with as little waste of stock as possible, as well aS to provide for cutting the sheets into stock sizes, I have devised a master control mechanism so located that the operator may conveniently spot the points at which the lines of severance should be made during the movement of the sheets. This mechanism further comprises a travelling unit at one side of the conveyor 20 moving in unison therewith and comprising a succession of tripping elements in the form of plungers which the operator may set as desired to effect the automatic tripping of the knife as the selected portions of a veneer sheet reach a point directly below the knife.

To the aforementioned ends I locate at the front side of the conveyor 20 a longitudinally extending narrow table I43, over and around which there travels a specially constructed link chain carrying plungers which the operator may push into position to eventually operate the trip I41 during the travel of said chain. The length of the table, the chain and the multiplicity of the plungers is such that the operator may set as many of the plungers as desired at opposite points on a veneer sheet where he may elect to place the lines of severance.

The table I43 is supported at its end adjacent the tripping element on a'laterally extending bracket I44 bolted to the edge of the frame piece 26 and at its distant end on legs I45 (Fig.3) and beneath said ends are sprockets for carrying the chain of which, the one at the inner end of the table, is shown in Fig. 14 mounted on a shaft I46 and indicated by 147. On the table there is a low platform I48 along which the upper course of the chain slides and thereon is a central guide I43 cooperating with the chain to prevent its; lateral displacement. The table also carries other parts for completing the setting of the plungers in tripping position and thereafter restoring them to their normal inoperative positions.

The shaft I46 is carried in bearings I50, on bracket I44, and the control mechanism is driven in unison with the travel of conveyor 20 by a drive chain I60 trained over a sprocket I6I on the conveyor shaft 51 and a sprocket I62 on shaft I46, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 14; also see Fig. 11.

Referring to Figs. 10 to 14 it will be seen that the chain of the control mechanism is composed of inner and outer linksI63-I64 having overlapping ears and those forming the two sides or" the chain being spaced well apart and connected by journalling their ears on the ends of studs or pins I65. The latter carry spaced bushings I66I6I and central rollers I68. The latter roll along the longitudinal guide I49 on the table while said bushings engage the edge of the guide to prevent lateral displacement of the chain. Each of the aforesaid chain links. has an outwardly extending perforated finger I69, the exposed corresponding links carryinga push rod or plunger I'I0 surrounded by a sleeve I which also serves to space the link fingers.

On their inner ends i. e. the ends adjacent conveyor 20, they are provided with circular heads IBI in the form of discs of appreciable thickness and on their opposite ends with circular knobs I82, the outer corners of which are beveled or chamfered, as indicated at I83. As shown in Figs. 10 and 11 the push rods are considerably longer than the width of the chain. In their normal position they are in aretracted position with the knobs extending outwardly from the to operate the tripping device Ml (Fig. 9).

as the lower course of the chain passes around- 7 near side of the chain, at which the operator stands, so that the heads 18! are retracted, or in an inoperative position against the inner'sidefof the chain. a

In order to return rods which have been manue ally set in an operative position I provide on the underside of the table (Fig. 11) an inclined cam surface I 84 with which such heads engage during the travel of the chain after they hav functioned Thus the distant end of the table onto the top of the table, each push rod is-in its normal inoperative position.

The operation of one or more of the push rods is preferably partly manual and partly automatic. Along the inner edge of the upper face of the table top and extending from its far end in the direction of the travel of the chain is a stop plate having anedge H85 extending parallel to the chain and spaced therefrom a distance of approximately one-half the full lengthwise movement of the pushpins. This allows for their tentative setting by the operator as he observes the veneer sheet on conveyor til, leaving the knobs 32 in a position to beeasily grasped to retract a'pin should occasion indicate the de sirability of altering an initial clipping adjustment for any reason. Beyond the terminal point itfi of edge I of the stop plate and on the forward side of the table top is a feeler which serves to either complete the inward movement of rods previously. pushed into engagement with the stop plate or to. engage behind the-knobs E32 of those pins which have not been operated or whichthrough accident may have been only partially displaced and to held them in an inoperative position during further movement of the chain. This feeler is in the form of a cam plate 537 having a pointed end lfifi located in position to engage the beveled edge I83 of a push pin when its inner end'or head 28] which has .rnov" ing along the guide 35., passes the. end tilt; of said stop plate. The inner inclined surface its moves such pin inwardly and its continued travel brings it into engagement with a second inclined surface I56 which completes the inward movement of suchpin or pins and positions their heads till in the plane of the trip arm hit-to rock thebell crank lever l3'l-.-! ll on its pivot and cause the rod I35 to actuate the pedal .35. The cam plate or feeler 'lS'l also has an inclined. surface i9! diverging outwardly from point it and a straight edge I92. '(Jonse uently anyhnob 552 which has not been fully. projected hy the operator is engaged on its inner side and is retracted by the inclined surface I91, in which position it is held by surface is? as the chain continues to move forward.

The operation of the machine will be readily understood. Veneer strips or ribbons they are peeled from the log in the peeler lathe travel along transport tables which are of censiderable length where they may be held for storage or from which they may be delivered directly onto the conveyor 29. In Fig. l, I have shown a portion of such a ribbon which, for purposes of illustration, has an irregular forward edge which would require the end of the sheet to be tl'immfid along the dot and dash line a. In the body of the sheet are depicted several irregularities which would require second and third cuts of the sheet to be made along the lines I) and c. For commercial purposes the ribbons are cut into standard sizes, a small sheet being represented by the distance between the lines a and b, and a larger sheet as extending from the line 0 to line d.

The conveyor 20 and the control mechanism 23 travel synchronously and the operator selects and actuates the plungers necessary to effect cuts along the several lines he may select some of which have been arbitrarily indicated for the purposes of illustration. In Fig. l certain of these push buttons E82 are shown in the operated position. As these successively reach the point I88 of the feeler cam plate I81 (Figs. 10 and 15) they are projected inwardly thus placing their operating heads [8| into a path which causes them, as the chain on which they are carried, passes around the sprocket bearing wheel M1, to engage the upwardly projecting arm M! of the tripping mechanism causing its displacement. This action occurs as frequently as a push button head It! comes into contact with the trip lever. Thereafter the continued movement of the chain on its lower flight beneath the table brings the operating heads [8i into contact with the inclined surface i8 4 (Fig. 11),

on the underside of the table, by means of which the previously actuated plungers are pushed outwardly to restore them to their normal position in readiness for subsequent actuation.

Movement of the trip MI has effected, through the operation of its associated bell crank lever it? the depression of the rod iBfi, which transmits movement to the rock shaft l3? to elevate the rod E36. Upward movement of the latter puts a kink in the chain I23, the end of which, being held taut by the spring 12% causes the arm lid to rock the shaft H2 and throw the shifting lever H in a direction to engage thev clutch mechanism A with the motor driven drum gear 42. The latter being then locked to the shaft rotates the crank arms Mi on its extremities causing the pitman 31' to-reciprocate the trimming cutter. This rotation of the shaft 5% simultaneously rotates the cam shaft 6! through the gears 52 and After a plunger head Hit of the control mechanism 23 passes over the trip. ping lever M! the previously described parts which have been set in operation thereby are retracted'and as this action occurs very quick ly the chain 523 is restored to its normal posie ticn in its guideway; Consequently as the cam H5 e haf i omp t i S9331? Q re eni nt levers it an H died a conn ct on of clutch A and permit clutch B to arrest the knife blade in its retracted or uppermost p o- 'sition. Y

Simultaneously with the throwing of the knife clutch A into operation and'at the commence.- ment of rotation of the cam shaft 4! the cam Eili'therecn displaces the lever 97 (Fig. 8) thus rocking the shaft sfiwhereupon lever 92 transmits'inotion through rod 9i and lever 8i) todisconnect the conveyor clutch drive 1-9. This halts the movement of the feeding and take-away con,- veyors 2i! and 2! andalso the push button control mechanism 23 until the. completion of the cutting stroke of knife 25. These parts are ace tuated through the train of gearing connections between the jack shaft '54 and the conveyor shafts 57 and 5%.

The resumption of operation of the several conveyors occurs after the cutting knife 25 has moved upwardly out of the path of the trimmed edge of a sheet since at that time the high point I00 of cam 99. has engaged lever 91 and pivoted it against the pull of the spring 94 to throw the conveyor clutch; 'lfl into operative position.

Iclaim:

1. In a veneer sheet trimmer, the combination with a frame, a vertically movable knife thereon, a movable endless gconveyor for feeding sheets to the knife, an endless link belt at one side of the conveyor movable ,with the conveyonseparate power sources ,for' driving the conveyor and belt and for reciprocating the knife, the first comprising a normally engaged clutch and the second comprising a normally disengaged clutch, interconnections for reversing the disposition of said clutches, a" tripping means located in juxtaposition to said belt for actuating said interconnections, of laterally adjustable selectors spaced on th belt and manually adjustable into set positions with respectto predetermined cutting lines on the transported veneer sheet serving to engage and to operat the tripping devices to effect the temporary halting of the conveyor and belt and to reciprocate the knife in accordance with the presentationrof a selected lin of severance of the sheet beneath the knife.

2. In a veener sheet trimmer, the combination with a frame, a vertically movable knife thereon and an endless conveyor conveying veneer sheets to the knife, of two separate continuously operating power sources one comprising a normally connected clutch for driving the conveyor and the other comprising a normally disengaged clutch for reciprocating the knife, devices yieldingly maintaining said clutches in said described'positions, interconnections between the clutches for reversing their normal positions to arrest the conveyor and cause the reciprocation of the knife, and tripping mechanism comprising a belt movable with said conveyor for actuating the interconnections.

3. In a veneer sheet trimmer, the combination with a frame, a vertically movable knife thereon and an endless conveyor conveying veneer sheets to the knife, of two separate continuously operating power sources one comprising a normally connected clutch for driving the conveyor and the other comprising a normally disengaged clutch for reciprocating the knife, devices yieldingly maintaining said clutches in said described positions, interconnections between the clutches for reversing their normal positions to arrest the conveyor and cause the reciprocation of the knife, and tripping mechanism for actuating the interconnections, and a pair of cams rotated in unison with the reciprocation of the knife serving to restore said clutches to their normal positions upon completion of the knifes stroke.

4. In a veneer sheet trimmer, the combination with a frame, a vertically movable knife thereon and an endless conveyor conveying veneer sheets to the knife, of two separate continuously operating power sources, one comprising a normally connected clutch for driving the conveyor and the other comprising a normally disengaged clutch for reciprocating the knife, devices yieldingly maintaining said clutches in said described positions, interconnections between the clutches for reversing their normal positions, a tripping mechanism for actuating the interconnections, and a pair of cams cooperating with the interconnections and rotated in unison with the reciprocation of the knife, one of said cams acting to arrest the movement of the conveyor upon descent of the knife and the other serving to arrest the knife upon its retraction and the completion of its stroke.

5. In a veneer sheet trimmer, the combination with a frame, a vertically movable knife thereon and an endless conveyor, conveying veneer sheets to the knife, of two separate continuously operating power sources one comprising a normally connected clutch for driving the conveyor and the other comprising a normally disengaged clutch for reciprocating the knife, devices yieldingly maintaining said clutches in said described positions, shiftable interconnections between the clutches for reversing their normal positions having a flexible intermediate portion, and a tripping mechanism comprising a belt movable with said conveyor operating against said flexible portion to actuate said interconnections.

6. In a veneer sheet trimmer, the combination with a frame, a vertically movable knife thereon and an endless conveyor conveying veneer sheets to the, knife, of two separate continuously operating power sources one comprising a normally connected clutch for driving the conveyor and the other comprising a normally disengaged clutch for reciprocating the knife, separate shifting levers for-said clutches, interconnections controlling the simultaneous movement of said levers comprising a horizontally guided link chain, and a tripping mechanism comprising a belt movable with said conveyor arranged to displace said chain vertically to effect actuation of the clutch levers.

'7. In a veneer sheet trimmer, the combination with a frame, a vertically movable knife thereon and an endless conveyor conveying veneer sheets to the knife, of two separate continuously operating power sources one comprising a normally connected clutch for driving the conveyor and the other comprising a normally disengaged clutch for reciprocating the knife, a spring operating on the lever of the normally engaged clutch controlling the conveyor to disconnect it, another spring operating on the lever of the normally disengaged clutch to connect it and reciprocate the knife, a pair of cams rotated in unison with the reciprocation of the knife having high points acting to hold said levers against the tension of their respective springs, and a tripping mechanism acting in conjunction with the lever of the knifecontrolling-clutch and its cam to effect a single cycle of movement of the knife.

8. In a veneer sheet trimmer, the combination with a frame, a vertically movable knife thereon and an endless conveyor conveying the veneer sheets to the knife, of two separate continuously operating power sources one comprising a normally connected clutch for driving the conveyor and the other comprising a normally disengaged clutch for reciprocating the knife, a pair of cams driven synchronously with the reciprocation of the knife each having a high point, levers for operating said clutches, throw arms connected to the levers and shifted by said cams, one throw arm acting to connect the normally disengaged clutch, the second arm and its cam simultaneously acting to disconnect the other clutch to arrest the movement of the conveyor, and a tripping mechanism for actuating the first mentioned lever to start the reciprocation of the knife and the rotation of said cams.

9. In a veneer sheet trimmer, the combination with a frame, a vertically movable knife thereon and an endless conveyor conveying veneer sheets to the knife, a power source for reciprocating the knife comprising a clutch driven shaft, a normally disengaged clutch thereon, and a cam shaft geared to the driven shaft, a second source of 11 power comprising a normally engaged clutch for driving the conveyor, a cam on the cam shaft serving to disengage the last mentioned clutch to arrest the conveyor upon rotation of the cam shaft, a lever for actuating the first mentioned clutch, a second cam on the cam shaft, a slide block operated by the second cam having a link connection guided on the frame and connected to said lever, and serving to hold it in an inoperative position and a tripping mechanism acting on the link connection to actuate said lever and cause its clutch to effect a cycle of operation of the knife.

10. In a veneer sheet trimmer having a frame, a reciprocating knife thereon and a conveyor for feeding sheets to the knife, a source of power for driving the knife and moving the conveyor; the improvement comprising means for controlling the movements of said knife and conveyor alternately and trip devices for actuating said controlling means, said means including an endless link belt driven synchronously with the conveyor composed of spaced side links, a table top underlying the upper course of the belt between the side links, push pins carried by the latter and normally operable laterally to'position their inner ends for engagement with said tripping devices, a cam surface located beneath the table for engagement With said inner ends of operated pins to move them outwardly following their actuation driving the knife and moving the conveyor; the

improvement comprising means for controlling the movements of said knife and conveyor alternately and trip devices for actuating said con trolling means, said means including a table paralleling one side of the conveyor, an endless link belt guided thereon and movable synchronously with the conveyor, spaced push pins adjustable manually of the belt in a direction toward the conveyor to position their inner ends in operative alinement with the tripping devices, heads on the outer ends of the pins and a cam surface on the table cooperatingwith said heads to hold pins previously positioned in their operative position during the continued movement of the belt,

and means located beneath the table for restoring suchoperated pins to their'normal position on the belt following their engagement with the tripping devices.

12. In a veneer sheet trimmer having a frame, a reciprocating knife thereon and a conveyor for feeding sheets to the knife, a source of power for 2 file of this patent:

driving the knife and moving the conveyor; the improvement comprising means for controlling the movements of said knife and said conveyor alternately and trip devices for actuating said controlling means, said means including a long narrow table paralleling one side of the conveyor, an endless link belt driven synchronously with the conveyor and looped around the table ends, pins movableftransversely of' the belt having knobs on their outer ends, a stop on the side of the table for limiting the initial lateral adjustment of the pins during part oftheir movement along the table and cam surfaces on the other side of the table, beyond the end of the stop bar, cooperating with the knobs of the pins to complete the full lateral movement of such adjusted pins into operative alinement with the trip devices and also serving to hold in retracted position other nonactuated pins.

13. In a veneer sheet trimmer having a frame, a reciprocating knife thereon and a conveyor for feeding sheets to the knife, a source of power for driving the knife and moving the conveyor, the improvement comprising means for controlling the movements of said knife and said conveyor alternately and trip devices for actuating said controlling means comprising a lever arm yieldingly held in operative position, said means including a table at one side of the conveyor, a sprocket journaled thereon above said arm and rotating synchronously with the conveyor, a link belt looped around the table and driven by the sprocket, spaced pins adjustable laterally manually to position one of their ends in alinement with the lever arm to actuate it as they pass around the sprocket and an inclined surface on the table beyond the sprocket engaged successively by said ends of the pins to restore the latter to their normal retracted position on the belt.

' ET'IORE PEDRON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,179,960 Palmer Apr. 18, 1916 1,259,968 7 Edwards l Mar. 19, 1918 1,438,810 Collier 1 Dec. 12, 1922 1,626,359 Rundell Apr. 26, 1927 1,727,307 Robinson Sept. 3, 1929 1,813,869 Templeton July 7, 1931 1,921,395" Moller Aug. 8, 1933 2,394,558 Miller Feb. 12, 1M6 

